St. John Paul II

St. Pope John Paul II

St. John Paul II was born in October of 1978 in a small city in Poland not far from Krakow, the city was called Wadowice. Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska were his parents, and at birth they gave him the name of Karol J. Wojtyla. John Paul II mother died in 1929, his eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932, and his father a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941. The deaths of these loved ones was just the beginning of the great suffering of St. John Paul II. 

In 1939 the Nazi occupation forces closed the drama university that Karol was attending; and young Karol had to work in a quarry for four years and later in the Solvay chemical factory to earn a living and also to avoid being deported to Germany. During the year of 1942 Karol became aware of his vocation to the priesthood. Karol then began courses in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, and at the same time was one of the pioneers of the “Rhapsodic Theatre”, which was also clandestine. 

After World War II he continued to study in the major seminary of Krakow, until his priestly ordination in Krakow on November 1, 1946. Karol was then sent to Rome where he worked under the guidance of a French Dominican, and finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. He then returned to Poland where he worked with the youth, became a professor of moral philosophy and social ethics in the major seminary in Krakow. A few years later he became the Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in 1958, then in 1964 he became the Archbishop of Krakow, and became a cardinal in 1967. 

John Paul became his pontificate on October 16, 1978. He had many accomplishments during his pontificate; including 14 encyclicals, one is by the name of Evangelium Vitae. Evanelgium Vitae is on the value in inviolability of human life. There are four chapters in the encyclical: Present Day Threats to Human life, speaking about how The Voice Of Your Brother’s Blood Cries To Me From The Ground, the second chapter: The Christian Message Concerning Life, often referencing John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”, the third chapter: God’s Holy Law, wish speaks of the fifth commandment, Thou Shall Not Kill, and finally the fourth chapter: For a New Culture of Human Life, in this chapter John Paul focuses on Matthew 25:40 “And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” We Pro-life supporters can often reference this encyclical. If any of you would like to read this entire encyclical and grow in your knowledge of the value of human life, it is available on the website of the Priest For Life. On their website the priests for life also offer many prayers and opportunities for sharing the Pro-life message.  Here is the link to their website: http://www.priestsforlife.org

John Paul II was beatified May, 1 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI and canonized April 27, 2014 by Pope Francis, both of these events took place in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. The feast day of St. Pope John Paul II is on October 22. 

St. Pope John Paul II, Pray for us!